Pipe stopper



April 3, 1956 E. A. KOENIG PIPE STOPPER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 291951 United States JlMQfi P PE IQ PEB Edgar A. Koenig, Shreveport, La.

Continuation of application Serial No. 538,865, January 3, 1946. This apIicatiQnfOc'tohe -ZS; l;9 1,er al No. 253,643 I Qflh S- 3 2 7 3) Thepresent invention relates to a pipe stopper of the expanding plug typewhich is adapted to be inserted into a transverse circular cut-outportion of a pipeto 'be shut oil and expanded into pipe stopping orshut-ofi relation with the edges of'the cut-outportionof the pipe. Thisapplication is a continuation'of the'copending application of Edgar A.Koenig,' Serial No. 638,865,'filed January 3, 1946, now abandoned.

It is a principal object of my invention to provide a pipe stopper orplugging device of the type under consideration that, upon expansion,will completelyshut off the flow of high pressure fluids of the order of300 to 1000 p. s. i. as well as lower pressures.

It is also an important'object'of my invention to provide a pipe stopperof the expansible plug type which may be readilyinserted intoa'transverse cut-out portion of a pipe to be shut oh and expanded toeltectively shut oh the flowof high pressure fluids and which mayb'eeasily contracted and removed at anydesired time without'damage ordistortion to the plug so that it may be used again without repair orreplacement of parts such as is required of the previously known pipestoppers when used to shut off very high pressure fluids.

Pipe stoppers of the expansible plu'g type are usually inserted througha transverse opening 'or cutout portion of the pipe to be shut off. Thisopening may be made by welding a pressure fitting to the pipe andbolting a gate a ve t the Pr su e fitt n A dri l g tool or fi g m y thenbe atta he t t e at .va ve a d the drill inserted thrpugh the open valveto drill the opening'or cut through the pipe. Thereafter the drill isremoved and the gate valve is closed to preventthe escape or fluid fromthe out or drilled pipe. A plug bell C0115 raining a stopper plug i naythen be attached to the gate valve and the plug inserted through thepreviously opened gate valve into the drilled out portion of the pipe.When the plug is expanded; the fluid pressure in the pipe will be shutoh at the downstream side'of the plug. When drilling the pipe, thereisan unavoidable tendency for the drill to wobble slightly and this tendsto cause the opening to be slightly larger on one side of ,the pipe thanon the other. Hence if an expansible plug is used to shut off highpressures, some provision should be made in the plug expanding means toassure that one end of the plug will be expanded slightly more than theother end in order to etfectively. seal against the edges of the cut-outportion of the pipe.

It is therefore an important object of my invention to provide acylindrical expa r sible plug type of pipe stopper with an eiiparidingmeans automatically adjusts itself to permit slightly more expansion atone end of the plug in order to assure a complete shut off of highpressure fluids in a pipe even though the transverse opening or cut-outportionthrough the pipe may be slightly larger at on e side of the pipe:than at the other. It is also an objectof myinvention to provide an expansible pipe stopper particularly designed to shut oil very high fiuidpressur eswithin a pipe ahdso eonstructed that the fluid pressure withinthe pipe may he usedto facilitatethe exp nsiqnjer the pl'ug when shut.Qif isdesired "and 'lfurtli'er cojristrueted with a cq trollahle fluidpressure by pafss valve within theplug botly to ,petmit equalization offi lid h li fwithin he p pe vand plug, on both sides offthe plug hen itis. desired ,tocoptract the plug arid'rerhoife'it i onilthepipe.

It is another objhdfhry' inventionto provide apipe stopper ofthsexpassibie type that will expand substantially 'unifo'ri'nlfabout theentire circumferenee thereof for a 'nior'e etfective'js'ealiiigengagement with the edges of a transilersebpeiiingin' afpipe line.

Further objects'a idf'advantagesot my invention will be apparentbyre"fe'rence to :the' followi g' speciii'cat'ioh anddrawingsdn'whichiFigure 1 is' longitudinal cross sect ional view of a plugging de o y gms inv n on and show i serted in a transverseo pening through a pipeline and also" showing im ress section the necessary pipe fittings, gatevalve, and 'a po'rftioiiof'theplug bell. Figure la isa 'se'ctionallvie'wconstituting a continuation'of Figure -1 and showing theiupper portion"of the plug bell together'with the plugoperatingptintrqls.-

Figure 2 isa n enlar'ged' loi 'g'itudinalsectional view of theexpansibleplu'gbddy shownin Figure 1 a d illustratingthe details ofthl'by-pass valve.

Figure 3"is a cross s'e'ctiol'ial view taken on li e 3 3 ofFigureZ. u

Referring to Figure 1 of the drawings a pipeline 1Q containing' flu dundr 'press'u re is shown with the pipe stopper of'my'inventionin'serted into a trai sverse drical cut-otit p'ortiod'lilo'fthe line in'p osition to he expanded to shut bit the fiiiid pressuretronrpipe sectio 11 to pipe section" 12." "A 'p'pe fitting, as 'a wellknown pressurecontrolfittin'g andjcornpriseld of the bottom section 13-spawn-p SfiOlfli, .i s 'w elded to the pipe 10; as fshown'; and' 'thesides of the twh'sections are welded together. "'Th top search .lflpi'qvid 'd with a flange *lS'to which conventional gate valve,generallyshowh at16 i's'boltedl The gate valve 16 is shown in the openpositionarid', since it "forms no p t ofr'nyinvent-ioii"audits"opefationjis obvious; willfnot be further referred toin detail." T6 the er 11 of the gatvalv"16'"may"he bolted a s'oventionaldrilling fitting or tool (hotshownjand the "drill may be passedthroughf'the opph'gate valve to (hill or cutlthe cylindrical opening sthrough the fipefia" T ieflll b ameter of thetraas'ver't peamg 10', {qrobvious reaso is, is at least as large as thefiiiher diameter bf t pipe{tie it). The drill may then be" withdrawn and th e' gate valve 16clhs'ed toprevent escape of fluid pressure the drilled pipe. 'After'thedrillfitting is removed the flange 17,"the p'i'pe stepperor' u of n yiinve n on may be attached tothe gate valve flange 17 the plug insertedintothe'drillied opening ll) of the pipe line. i

A s l 15 Wire 5 flan e Open e d 2 1, is bolted to the 'fiahge if] thegate: valve and sealed thereto y a s l a 'ii .2 .A thread d en 2 iii 'e'i' s wall of the bell norrrially'closed by a threaded plug 2 and itsfunction will be referred to hereinafter. At the closed upper d ofthe'pliug bell 20 is a Smiling box ZSKFigure 1g) th ugh which 'isslidably journalled the tubular operatiiig m"2 6of the pipe stopper orplug. Thus the plug inay'be retra'cted into a position within the plugbell 20 pntil the plug hell is bolted and sealed to the ate valvelo,after which the gate valve may be p d the Plus hci g'v ere hrq s e va veint the opening Ill. inj the pipe line it). A shoulder 27 within e sfiae e i n 4% a t e Pre u fi t is. dap ed. 9 rrang a s a! is! u ba en atbase la e r1 he plug when it is lowered into the pipe opening in orderto properly position the plug axially therein.

With reference to Figures 1, 2, and 3, it will be seen that the pipestopper or plug device of my invention is provided with a cylindricalsleeve of relatively thin wall thickness and normally of slightly lessdiameter than the hole or cut-out portion 10' drilled through the pipeline 10. The plug sleeve 30 is preferably formed of a resilient orspringy material, such as certain types of good steel or the like, andis machined to provide a cylindrical exterior having circumferential endflanges 31 for retention of a sleeve covering or sheath 32 of suitablegasket material. When the plug is to be used to shut off very high fluidpressures, the covering 32 preferably is of a laminated rubber andfabric construction. Extending the entire length of the plug sleeve 30and covering 32 is a narrow longitudinal slot 33 (see Figure 3). It isintended that the plug be inserted in the opening 10 of the pipe line 10with the slot 33 facing the upstream side of the line, as shown inFigure 1, so that line pressure may enter into the plug sleeve 30 andinto the bell 20. Hence, when the by-pass valve, to be later described,is closed, line pressure facilitates expansion of the plug into shut-offrelation. The slot 33 also functions to permit expansion and contractionof the resilient plug sleeve 30, as will be readily understood.

In order to obtain uniform expansion of the plug sleeve 30, which mayalso be called the body of the plug, the sleeve should be provided onits interior with a plurality of circumferentially-narrow, radiallyinwardly-facing wedging surfaces spaced substantially uniformly aboutthe entire circumference of the sleeve. These surfaces may be providedby a number of inwardly-directed, longitudinally-extending, radial vanes34 welded or otherwise suitably secured to the interior of the sleeve,as

shown. The vanes are spaced substantially uniformly about the entireinner circumference of the sleeve 30 and disposed symmetrically onopposite sides of the slot 33. For practical purposes, about four suchvanes is the minimum number. In actual practice four such vanes havebeen found to be satisfactory for 4 to 6 inch stoppers with anapproximately corresponding increase in number for larger size stoppers.Thus, a 10 inch stopper requires about 6 vanes, and a 20 inch stopperabout 10 vanes. It will be noted that the symmetrical disposition of thevanes 34, with respect to the slot 33, locates two vanes closelyadjacent the opposite sides of the slot. These two vanes effect themajor portion of the expansion of the sleeve, as later described. Thevanes 34 have oppositely tapered end portions 35 and 36 which formwedging surfaces that cooperate with appropriate expanding means, hereshown as oppositely tapered frusto-conical wedging members 37 and 38,respectively. The expanding members 37 and 38 are threadedly mountedupon a jackscrew 39 having two sets of threads 40 and 41 of oppositepitch, so that when the jackscrew is turned the members 37 and 38 aremoved either toward or away from each other to expand or contract theplug, depending upon the direction in which the iackscrew is turned.

The expanding members 37 and 38 are held against rotation, upon rotationof the iackscrew 39, by the tubular stern'26 that is belied outwardly atits lower end and threadedly engaged in a recess in the outer end of theupper member 38. Two pairs of pins 28 and 29 project outwardly from eachof the members 37 and 38, respectively, and straddle one of the vanes34, as best shown in Figures 2 and 3, in order to connect the member 37to the member 38 for rotation therewith, or to be held against rotationthereby. It will also be seen that the pins 28 and 29 connect the sleeve30 to the stein 26 for rotation thereby. Preferably, the stem 26 isprovided with a handle 70 for facilitating its movement.

Rotation of the jackscrew 39 is accomplished by a hollow shaft 43 thathas a socketed lower end operatively receiving the reduced upper end. ofthe jackscrew and secured to the latter by a coupling ring 43. The shaft43 passes through a stuffing box 26' at the upper end of the stem 26 andits projecting portion is provided with a handle 42 and a petcock 57.The function of the petcock will be described hereinafter.

The upper end of the shaft 43 also is provided with a stuffing box 44through which is threaded the shaft 45 of a needle valve 46. Anoperating handle 47 is provided for the needle valve shaft 45, whichextends down through the hollow shaft 43 and into an opening or axialbore that is drilled in the jackscrew and communicates, at its lowerend, with a drilled lateral port 5%). Somewhat above its lower end, thebore 48 is provided with a seat 49 for the needle valve 46 and above theseat is another lateral port 51. The port 51 provides communicationbetween the bore 48 and-the interior of a stufling box 52 that isrotatably mounted on an intermediate section of the jackscrew 39 and hasa flexible connection 53 communicating with the interior thereof. Theconnection 53 communicates with the pressure chamber 53' of adifierential piston by-pass valve 56 having a cylinder that houses adifferential piston 54, which cooperates with a valve seat 55. Acircumferential groove 54' in the piston 54, adjacent the sealingsurface thereof, provides a reduced differential pressure area exposed,via ports 58 in the cylinder, to the pressure within the sleeve 30. Thevalve 56 controls communication between the interior of the sleeve 30and a port 59 therein opposite the slot 33.

The port permits upstream line pressure to reach the needle valve seat49, via the slot 33 and interior of the sleeve 30. Hence, when theneedle valve 46 is opened, fluid pressure may pass into the drilledopening 48 around the needlevalve shaft 45, and out through the port 51,through the interior of stuffing box 52 and the flexible connection 53to the pressure chamber 53'. The fluid pressure in the chamber 53'functions to seat the valve piston 54 against the valve seat 55 of theby-pass valve 56, thus closing the by-pass valve when the needle valve46 is open. When the needle valve is closed, the fluid pressure withinchamber 53, connection 53, port 51, drilled opening 48, and hollow shaft43 may be drained off by opening the petcock 57. Thereupon, fiuidpressure within the sleeve 30 and pipe line section 11 acts against thereduced pressure area provided by the groove 54' and forces the piston54 off of the valve seat 55, thus opening the bypass valve 56 andpermitting upstream line pressure to pass through the port 59 toequalize the fluid pressure in the pipe sections 11 and 12 and in thesleeve 30. With the pressure thus equalized, the sleeve 30, because ofits inherent resiliency, will readily contract for removal from the pipeline upon separating movement of the wedging members 37 and 38. Becauseof such automatic contraction, the rubber sheath 32 is not apt to bedamaged during removal of the stopper from the opening in the line.

It should be noted that the jackscrew 39 passes through an unthreadedopening 60 in the base plate 61 of the plug and has a plate-retainingnut 62 thereon. .Thus, when the handle 42 is turned to move theexpanding cones 37 and 38 toward each other to expand the sleeve 30, anaxial floating movement of the expanding cones and jackscrew assemblytoward the base plate 61 is permitted to automatically compensate for alarger diameter at the top of the opening 10' through'the pipe line 10than at the bottom thereof, and thus permit a larger amount of expansionat the upper portion of the sleeve 30. This is an important feature ofmy invention, since it assures a complete sealing off or shut off of thehigh pressure fluid in the pipe line, thus making the pipe stopper of myinvention suitable for use in oil fields or the like where high fluidpressure of inflammable mixtures are encountered.

To summarize the operation of the plugging device of my invention, thepetcock 57 is closed and the plug'is i i zs lupqn the aadls is t r ed 19turn the s eeve 39 until the 9! 3; is fa -ins the 11. W10? flui P essurea, the upstream side of the' line. The handle 47 is thpn tamed ta ass thn e Yak; 6 459 th lin Press is a pl o the v e P s ols .54 o .cldse e v.-ir ss valve 5.5- tis p ess e than ends t s p tbs leeve 5.14 by turn t ea l 42 in the sitt r sa Wh te ha t i t e h ss e a ns p mise t A s pa s n9 1 star 38 m be ea ly wa ed q a d se v s o e Paa t s s s einto s vt-Qfire a i n he edge 9 the opening 19' through ithepipe line: By using thfluid pressure in the pipeline to asfis t in expan mg the plug,

am email d" to ss a ls t t flaw 91 var l h fluid pr snres in the orderof 000 p. s." i.

' i i a v n ag o s team of my iivent p hat when is desired to gainaccess toand use the finid presaria" within pipe section ll 7 s n '12is's hnt oifhy h .p s vffim b ue 2 m a its si ir afi i t s'bo' "an a s ia e as'fi fi a dialtel o hbwni a b a -a h W sired to remove thep'ipestopper oi ilfi ls b Q fi d: v v E rin' p es ure 'ch' inb 5 ith fiiiidpressuredvithiri the sleeve 3tlacts "tduns'eat the valve piston 54 andopen the by-pass valve 5 6 to permitlthe p s lv iv t i ih e veii jatid PP li S QfiQI Sl! and 12 to equalised. VWith the pr eiiualiied; the hanis zi ia e n d t eia r 1 e pa s on edns' a d 8 an' 'thus pe m the resilin sl eve 3,0 9 sp in backto its normal diameten wherenpon it" "'y belesily removed without distortion Q1"breakagebf Parts.

It will also be seen that the outer edges of'th'e circumsn e s svlflanges 31, and 3 6.1 1 ba pla e Gr t pharnfered to facilitate i irtionpf the stopper into the trari terse opening ill/in tlie"pipe line.Add onally, thefianges 3.1 serve t PIQtecttlie gasket r al"cov e'rinsarg insertion a r ova o the s oppe .t m

formed in the drilling bperatio'ril "A o he and mssi en sa s Q in sntrss si s n t f s h h Q WEXPZE diQ the s1 frnstotc onical wedging'membersQIt T and withinthe "plierai on e gfthe sleeve. Hence, s ne-Mi Wopening 1i)"during the enpandirig o' eration, and, theref re j e co tanly ctivef T e tl xpan in r onithe sleeveSii to the'frill extent of eansiorl of the ee; egthe' wed mea s hnotib ains .th .ed'g'es of theopening 1 tl" b 1ef o re' the sleeve is fully exlifii il ill Still"anotherimport'ant f re'i'esides the use of the longitndinal vanes or r"riding the entire len'gthof the sleeve 3010 prov de w dgin'g surfaces.on the interior t rco hennif, m .jpas n s these vanesab out the'entirecircun ierence f the sleeve and their symmetrical"dispfiSition Withrespect tothe sleeve slot 33 results in aunilorm expansion of the sleevethat achieves 'a more effective sealing" engagerrieitt 'b'etiveen'theexterior of th'eisleeveaiidtlie edges o fthe out- Olli portion 19 of thepipeline; 'Ihjthis' fesp egt'it isflto be noted th i a isfilos yadjac nqpplq t sides of ,the slot probably efiect the major portion bf theeitp'ansion pf the sleeve.

Itrwill thus be seen the objects of this invention have been fully andefieotively acconrplishedby simple theburrs onrthe edgesoftheopeningllYthat arelusually v mea s ca a q i l the ed es 1 the r a sa Pi s its? said s eve at ng a slat ex nd ng its are shs h: a lu i qf aa ly exte din nw rd ndear 1 he n er m o ai eeve s ivahi havin opp aperedan p rti n iacks r w, a pai np e p ed nes sq at n w said tapered endportions and threaded on oppositely threaded ends of said jackscrew,means to rotate said jackscre w and move said cones to expand saidsleeve, said jaclrscrevv being capable of limited axial movementrelative to said sleeve, and'means to prevent rotation of said coneswith respect to said sleeve and said sleeve with respect to the pipeline upon rotation of said jackscrew.

'A pipe toppe comp i g cy nd a eeve adapted to" beins'erted transverselythrough a cut out portion of a pipe lirie,' a 'ga'slret material securedto the exterior of said sleQY, said sleeve .having' a slot extending itsentire length; a plura lity of radially extending inward vanes sepu'redto the interior Qf' 'said sleeve, said vanes having oppositely taperedend portions, a jack I screw, a pair of oppositely taperedcones'cooperating with inw rd van cars to, t e n'tsria 'vq 's it seamees ha n opp si ly ap r d a d Po ions a ja Tscr w p ir pp'ds t l aps= d 2oii'e i t fi with said tapered end portions "and thr eade d on op posite ly threaded ends of'said jacksgrew, means to rotate said ia ksrandtn v sai a i s sv a d ii l i bhm'dtflb 9 lim id axial fi il i615?tiveto said sleeve, and'm'eans to'prevent ro fta tio :of said cones withrespect to' s aid sleeve and j i spect to the pipeline i pon"i 'otatioii 'of sa w jackscr'wj A pipe stopper compri ing"; -resilientcyl inslee e ,a ap ed'tc e inserte ns t 'ylrthrsi a bu por o p pe i a asketmaterial see f it;

the 'i x riorj f aid eeve, sa dfs .tefad nsi 'fcnt re en th 1 I inwardvanes se cur'edtothe rate or" of s f qes h v g bpit t ly' tap red end Ps e'i a pa of iiiiaq it t er ca es c ai easte an b r qn ai thread deaded' en s of said jack sc'rew, means vinga' slot exa ly si s in d s1is ia s rew' n o Sai iq l t0 sal ia ks w b tis anabl f r relative tostaid sleeve; a id'frneansjtoprevent rota on of saidcones with respe cttosaid sleeve id jrsps q h p ii inc u q rp at an .st l ,idj] r W SJApipe stopper comprising a c'vlijndr al sle ye ad t to b i t diraisverrhmu iii xbf a p p i1 e" S1 i' .t q 'mal vi ei s q S l s me e a sa d sbmi pa i i jf s1. hily greater diameter than said pipe line nd having aslot ext nd t ent r len th a i l hft 9 ra all e t S ing jinward vanessecured to the interior of said' If "e, lsaid' ane v sopp i y apried'len 'pqr ls i 'jf qkscrew, a pair of oppositely tapered conescooperating w thfl ai er d end P rt n arma a o cai pbsite ly threadedends of said jackscrigmrneans to rotate said i ks tew n move sa d ones oxp n id s ev s i jackscrew being capable oflimited axial movementrelative to said sleeve, and means to prevent rotation of said coneswith respect to said sleeve and said sleeve with rejspect to the pipeline upon rotation of'said jackscrew.

6. A pipe stopper comprising a cylindrical sleeve adaptedto be insertedtransverselythrough a cut-out poi-- terior of said sleeve, said sleevenormally being of slightly less diameter than said cut-out portion butof slightly greater diameter than said pipe line and having a slotextending its entire length, a plurality of radially extending inwardvanes secured to the exterior of said sleeve, said vanes havingoppositely tapered end portions, a jackscrew, 21 pair of oppositelytapered cones cooperating with said tapered end portions and threaded onoppositely threaded ends of said jackscrew, means to rotate saidjackscrew and move said cones to expand said sleeve, said jackscrewbeing capable of limited axial movement relative to said sleeve, andmeans to prevent rotation of said cones with respect to said sleeve andsaid sleeve with respect to the pipe line upon rotation of saidjackscrew.

7. A pipe stopper comprising a resilient cylindrical sleeve adapted tobe inserted transversely through a cutout portion of a pipe line, saidsleeve having a slot extending its entire length, means to rotate saidsleeve and position said slot in a direction facing the flow of fluidpressure in the pipe line, a by-pass opening in the wall of said sleeve,a valve operative to control the passage of fluid pressure through saidlay-pass, remote control means to operate said valve, and means toexpand saidsleeve into pipe stopping relation with the pipe line.

8. A pipe stopper comprising a resilient cylindrical sleeve adapted tobe inserted transversely through a cutout portion of a pipe line, agasket material secured to the exterior of said sleeve, said sleevehaving a slot extending its entire length, means to rotate said sleeveand position said slot in a direction facing the flow of fluid pressurein the pipe line, a by-pass opening in the wall of said sleeve, a valveoperative to control the passage of fluid pressure through said by-pass,remote control means to operate said valve, and means to expand saidsleeve into pipe stopping relation with the pipe.

9. A pipe stopper comprising a cylindrical sleeve adapted to be insertedtransversely through a cut-out portion of a pipe line, said sleevenormally being of slightly less diameter than said cut-out portion butof slightly greater diameter than said pipe line and having a slotextending its entire length, means to rotate said sleeve and positionsaid slot in a direction facing the flow of fluid pressure in the pipeline, a by-pass opening in the wall of said sleeve, a valve operative tocontrol the passage of fluid pressure through said by-pass, remotecontrol means to operate said valve, and means to expand said sleeveinto pipe stopping relation with the pipe line.

10. A pipe stopper comprising a resilient cylindrical sleeve adapted tobe inserted transversely through a cut-out portion of a pipe line, agasket material secured to the exterior of said sleeve, said sleevenormally being of slightly less diameter than said cut-out portion butof slightly greater diameter than said pipe line and having a slotextending its entire length, means to rotate said sleeve and positionsaid slot in a direction facing the flow of fluid pressure in the pipeline, a bypass opening in the wall of said sleeve, a valve operative tocontrol the passage of fluid pressure through said by-pass, remotecontrol means to operate said valve, and means to expand said sleeveinto pipe stopping relation with the pipe line.

11. A pipe stopper comprising a cylindrical sleeve adapted to beinserted transversely through a cut-out portion of a pipe line, saidsleeve having a slot extending its entire length, means to rotate saidsleeve and position said slot in a direction facing the flow of fluidpressure in the pipe line, a by-pass opening in the Wall of said sleeve,a valve operative to control the passage of fluid pressure through saidby-pass, remote control means to operate said valve, a plurality ofradially extending inward vanes secured to the exterior of said sleeve,said vanes having oppositely tapered end portions, a jackscrew, a pairof oppositely tapered cones cooperating with said tapered end portionsand threaded on oppositely threaded ends of said jackscrew, means torotate said jackscrew and move said cones .to expand.'said sleeve,

said jackscrew being capable of limited axial movement relative to saidsleeve, and means to prevent rotation of said cones with respect to saidsleeve and said sleeve with respect to the pipe linesupon rotation ofsaid jackscrew.

of said sleeve, 21 valve operative to control the passage offluidpressure through said by-pass, remote control means to operate saidvalve, a plurality of radially extending inward vanes secured to theinterior of said sleeve, said vanes having oppositely tapered endportions, a jackscrew, a pair of oppositely tapered cones cooperatingwith said tapered end portions and threaded on oppositely threaded endsof said jackscrew, means to rotate said jackscrew and move said cones toexpand said sleeve, said jackscrew being capable of limited axialmovement relative. to said sleeve, and means to prevent rotation ofsaidtcones with respect to said sleeve and said sleeve with respect tothe pipe line upon rotation of said jackscrew.

13'. A pipe stopper comprising a cylindrical sleeve adapted to beinserted transversely through a cut-out portion of'a pipe line, saidsleeve normally being of slightly less diameter than said cut-outportion but of slightly greater diameter than said pipe line and havinga slot ex? tending its entire length, means to rotate said sleeve andposition said slot in a direction facing the flow of fluid pressure inthe pipe line, a by-pass opening in the wall of said sleeve, a valveoperative to control the passage of fluid pressure through said by-pass,remote control means to operate said valve, a plurality of radiallyextending inward vanes secured to the interior of said sleeve, saidvanes having oppositely tapered end portions, a jackscrew, a pair ofoppositely tapered cones cooperating withsaid tapered end portions andthreaded on oppositely threaded ends of said jackscrew, means to rotatesaid jackscrew and move said cones to expand said sleeve, said jackscrewbeing capable of limited axial movement relative to said sleeve, andmeans to prevent rotation of said cones with respect to said sleeve andsaid sleeve with respect to the pipe line upon rotation of saidjackscrew.

14. A pipe stopper comprising a cylindrical sleeve adapted to beinserted transversely through a cut-out portion of a pipe line, a gasketmaterial secured to the exterior of said sleeve, said sleeve normallybeing of slightly less diameter than said cut-out portion but ofslightly greater diameter than said pipe line and having a slotextending its entire length, means to rotate said sleeve and positionsaid slot in a direction facing the flow of fluid pressure in the pipeline, a by-pass opening in the wall of said sleeve, a valve operative tocontrol the passage of fluid pressure through said by-pass, remotecontrol means to operate said valve, a plurality of radially extendinginward vanes secured to the interior of said sleeve, said vanes havingoppositely tapered end portions, a jackscrew, a pairof oppositelytapered cones cooperating with said tapered end portions and threaded onoppositely threaded ends of said jackscrew, means to rotate saidjackscrew and move said cones to expand said sleeve, said jackscrewbeing capable of limited axial movement relative to said sleeve, andmeans to prevent rotation of said cones with respect to said sleeve andsaid sleeve with respect to the pipe line upon rotation of saidjackscrew.

15. A pipe stopper comprising: a longitudinally-split flexiblecylindrical sleeve adapted to be inserted into, and having a normalouter diameter less than, a transverse circular opening through a pipeline, the diameter of the opening being at least as large as the innerdiameter of the pipe-line; means defining a plurality of radiallydisposed.circumferentially-narrow wedgingtsurfacestonzthe-interior ofsaid sleevev and spaced suhstantiallyiuniformly about :the entirecircumference thereof; and :wedgemeaus confined within the peripheraloutline of said sleeve and mounted for movement into wedging engagementwith said wedging surfaces to produce a plurality ofradially outwardlydirected expansive forces on said sleeve spaced substantially uniformlyabout the entire circumference thereof for expanding saidsleeveinto-fiow-stoppingsealing engagement with the edges of the openingthrough the pipeline.

16.'f1h e structure defined in claim l in which the wedging surfacescomprise the'inner edges of a plurality of longitudinal vanes secured to.the inner side of the sleeve.

17. A pipe stopper comprising: a longitudinally-split flexiblecylindrical sleeve adapted to be inserted into, and having a normalouter diameter less than, a transverse circular opening through a pipeline, the diameter of the opening being at least as large as the innerdiameter of the pipe line; means defining a plurality ofradially-disposed circumferentially-narrow wedging surfaces on theinterior of said sleeve, spaced substantially uniformly about thecircumference thereof, and disposed symmetrically about the splittherein; and wedge means confined within the peripheral outline of saidsleeve and mounted for movement into wedging engagement with saidwedging surfaces to produce a plurality of radially outwardly directedexpansive forces on said sleeve spaced substantially uniformly about theentire circumference thereof for expanding said sleeve intoflow-stopping sealing engagement with the edges of the opening throughthe pipe line.

18. A pipe stopper comprising: a longitudinally-split flexiblecylindrical sleeve adapted to be inserted into, and having a normalouter diameter less than, a transverse circular opening through a pipeline, the diameter of the opening being at least as large as the innerdiameter of the pipe line; means defining a plurality ofradially-disposed circumferentially-narrow wedging surfaces on theinterior of said sleeve and spaced substantially uniformly about theentire circumference thereof; and frusto-conical wedge means confinedwithin the peripheral outline of said sleeve and mounted for axialmovement into Wedging engagement with said wedging surfaces to produce aplurality of radially outwardly directed expansive forces on said sleevespaced substantially uniformly about the entire circumference thereoffor expanding said sleeve into flow-stopping sealing engagement with theedges of the opening through the pipe line.

19. A pipe stopper comprising: a longitudinally-split flexiblecylindrical sleeve adapted to be inserted into, and having a normalouter diameter less than, a transverse circular opening through a pipeline, the diameter of the opening being at least as large as the innerdiameter of the pipe line; means defining a plurality ofradially-disposed circumferentially-narrow wedging surfaces on theinterior of said sleeve and spaced substantially uniformly about theentire circumference thereof; wedge means confined within the peripheraloutline of said sleeve and mounted for movement into wedging engagementwith said wedging surfaces to produce a plurality of radially outwardlydirected expansive forces on said sleeve spaced substantially uniformlyabout the entire circumference thereof for expanding said sleeve intoflow-stopping sealing engagement with the edges of the opening throughthe pipe line; means operatively connected to said sleeve and extendingaxially therefrom for rotating the sleeve to position the split thereinon the upstream side of the pipe line; and means independent of saidrotating means within said sleeve and operatively connected to saidwedge means for effecting movement of said wedge means into wedgingengagement with said wedging surfaces.

2.0. a pipe stopper .comprising: a cylindr ca shew adapted to 31 6insettedinto attr nsversetc qulargp ine through a pipe line, said sleevehaving a narro ngi tudinal slot-extendinggheentire engththemcfi meadefini g a plurali y of axially-inclined r dial y-disposedciroumferentially narrgw .wfliiging, surfaceson the interior of saidleeve and spac d-substan ially uniformly a o t he n ire circumf r ncehereof; wedg tmean c nf ned wi hin the p ripher l outlin of said sle v.a dp symetrical c nfi r t qn with re p ct to the. xi thereof; nd mean mt a mid-we si ma keter a x rn e se an eurt se s e a p, a a t t p til ae-plu ality .Q dial ou wardl ts re t dt raiiti l erre s i le ve spac dsub an a l unim tar et 1 1 enti e circumference thereof forexpan'dingsaid sleeve into flowstopping sealing engagement with the edges of theopening through the pipe line.

21. A pipe stopper comprising: a longitudinally-split flexiblecylindrical sleeve adapted to be inserted into, and having a normalouter diameter less than, a transverse circular opening through a pipeline, the diameter of the opening being at least as large as the innerdiameter of the pipe line; means defining two radially-disposedcircumferentially-narrow wedging surfaces on the interior of said sleeveand disposed closely adjacent to, at equal distances from, and onopposite sides of the split therein; and wedge means confined within theperipheral outline of said sleeve and mounted for movement into wedgingengagement with said wedging surfaces for expanding said sleeve intoflow-stopping sealing engagement with the edges of the opening throughthe pipe line.

22. A pipe stopper comprising a longitudinally-split cylindrical sleeveadapted to be inserted into, and having a normal outer diameter lessthan, a transverse circular opening through a pipe line, the diameter ofthe opening being at least as large as the inner diameter of the pipeline; expanding means within said sleeve and confined within theperipheral outline thereof for expanding said sleeve into flow-stoppingsealing engagement with the edges of the opening through the pipe line;means connected to said expanding means and extending axially from saidsleeve for operating said expanding means; and means independent of saidoperating means connected to said sleeve and extending axially therefromfor angularly orienting the same within the pipe line opening.

23. A pipe stopper comprising: a longitudinally-split cylindrical sleeveadapted to be inserted into, and having a normal outer diameter lessthan, a transverse circular opening through a pipe line, the diameter ofthe opening being at least as large as the inner diameter of the pipeline; expanding means within said sleeve for expanding the same intoflow-stopping sealing engagement with the edges of the opening throughthe pipe line; means within said sleeve effective upon rotation thereoffor operating said expanding means; means operatively connected to saidsleeve and extending axially therefrom for angularly orienting saidsleeve within the opening in the pipe line; and means independent ofsaid orienting means operatively connected to said operating means andextending axially of said sleeve for operating said operating means.

24. The structure defined in claim 23 in which the sleeve orientingmeans includes a hollow shaft and the separate means includes a shaftextending coaxially in said hollow shaft.

25. A pipe stopper comprising: a longitudinally-split cylindrical sleeveadapted to be inserted into, and having a normal outer diameter lessthan, a transverse circular opening through a pipe line, the diameter ofthe opening being at least as large as the inner diameter of the pipeline; expanding means within said sleeve effective to applysubstantially radially-outwardly directed expansive forces to saidsleeve at locations thereon closely adjacent to, at equal distancesfrom, and on opposite sides of the split therein; means for operatingsaid expanding means; and means independent of said operating meansconnected to said sleeve and extending axially therefrom for angularlyorienting the same within the pipe line opening. 7

26.-A pipe stopper comprising: a longitudinally-split cylindrical sleeveadapted to be inserted into, and having a normal outer diameter lessthan, a transverse circular opening through a pipe line, the diameter ofthe opening being at least as large as the inner diameter of the pipeline; a plurality of radially-inwardly extending vanes secured to theinterior of said sleeve and having oppositely tapered portions; a pairof oppositely tapered cones cooperating with said vane tapered portionsfor expanding said sleeve upon relative axial movement between saidcones; means connected to said cones for effecting relative axialmovement therebetween, and means independent of said last-mentionedmeans and connected to said sleeve for inserting and removing the latterfrom the pipe line opening without eifecting relative'axial movementbetween said cones.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS198,547 Meyer Dec. 25, 1877 1,058,669 Goddard Apr. 8, 1913 2,171,937Larry et a1. Sept. 5, 1939 2,237,476 Cline Apr. 8, 1941 2,466,313Hnmason Apr. 5, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS 331,216 France Sept. 2, 1903

